“Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.”
1 John 3:9 (NLT)
When John says that those born into God’s family don’t make a practice of sinning, he’s describing a transformation, not perfection. God’s very life—His Spirit—now lives within us, and that makes it impossible to stay comfortable in sin. When His Spirit is in you, conviction comes quickly, and change follows naturally.
This passage shows us that purity flows from eager expectation. If we keep our eyes on Christ’s return and remain in fellowship with Him, we stay pure just as He is pure. But when our expectation shifts to the things of this world—success, comfort, or control—we drift. The practice of sin always starts with misplaced focus.
John reminds us that Jesus didn’t just forgive sin; He destroyed the works of the devil. That means sin no longer has authority over a believer who abides in Him. The Father doesn’t just claim us as His children—He fathers us. Through the Holy Spirit, He trains, corrects, and shapes us into His likeness.
If you’ve been born into God’s family, you have His life inside you. You don’t have to keep practicing sin. You can practice fellowship—staying close, listening, responding, and walking as Jesus walked. Today, let yourself be fathered by God.